Alan Rickman: The Unauthorized Biography

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed it
Review: For those browsers seeking an Alan Rickman video and wondering about stumbling upon this tome instead, rest assured it is where you wish to be. For even a passing interest in one or or another performance by this remarkable thespian is well rewarded between the pages of this book; the dust jacket photo alone is worth the price. For those already totally beguiled, it is a rewarding compilation of information available elsewhere in fits and starts; and the author clearly shares your fascination, however much she belittles the impulse ("The bizarre downside to the public fascination with this intriguing maverick comes in the form of sackloads of intrusive and obsdene mail from otherwise respctable women..." p. 3). As it is "unauthorized," the man himself has not actively participated in the book's composition. However, his creative endeavors imbue its pages, and he is quoted extensively from interviews printed elsewhere (many of which are available on the Internet). The fact that this represents two removes from the source serves only to perpetuate the mystery, increase the wonder. Although I am in no position to judge the accuracy of the bulk of the book, which deals with the London theatre scene--and in fact fail to understand parts of it, due to both culture and idiom (we are, as Shaw observed, two nations separated by a common language)--the films to which those of us residing "across the pond" are privy seem remarkably well characterized. I noted only one glaring error: Ms.Paton tells us (p. 204) that "'An Awfully Big Adventure' [1995] contained Rickman's first film sex scene." One wonders what distracted Ms. Paton while watching 'Close My Eyes' [1991], (which she discusses on pages 136-137), wherein Mr. Rickman treats us to one quite brief but absolutely orgiastic interlude. She does have a tendency to repeat engaging anecdotes, leaving one to wonder whether the chapters were composed for episodic publication and only later bound together. Ignoring the resulting sense of deja vu, in the end, one is left consuming the remaining paragraphs slowly, savoring them, prolonging the experience, hoping some theatrical benefactor will commission supplements extending beyond this book's 1996 copyright. As to Mr. Rickman: there is no doubt he shall: "Break a leg!"

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed it
Review: I approached this book with a bit of trepidation, fearing it might be a typical, tabloid sort of biography, only interested in exposing a celebrity's "shocking secrets." I was pleasantly suprised, for this turned out to be quite a journalistic effort, and very respectful of Mr. Rickman's considerable talent. I found the analysis of the London theatre scene interesting, and it wasn't too difficult for even a theatre novice, like me, to comprehend. I thought that the time spent on Alan Rickman's role in "Sense and Sensibility" relied a bit too heavily on quotations from Emma Thompson's "Diaries," but overall, I enjoyed the book. The photos included are a nice addition, particularly the ones of a younger Rickman in early stage roles. For an unauthorized biography, I think Ms. Paton has done an admirable job, and would recommend this book to any Rickman fan.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the actor, not so many for the book . . .
Review: I did so want to enjoy this book -- I absolutely adore Alan Rickman! I should have waited for the authorized version. Much like comparing ground round to a real steak, certainly a book on which he cooperated would have more substance and flavor to it than does this one. The problem is not so much that he didn't participate - it's almost as though the author didn't really, either.

After the prologue which is very nearly the best part of the book, Mr. Rickman's life is neatly divided up into sections, according to years and/or projects. Okay, that's a valid way of doing a biography, except that here, it's such a mish-mosh. Intertwined with a sentence or two from each of many reviews for each of his productions, are slightly longer quotes from friends or co-workers, who were frequently not even connected with the production being discussed. These quotes tend to wander from year to year, as if lost, looking for their rightful place, just as the reader struggles to recall 'who/where was this?' or 'what play/movie/radio program was that?'

The few pictures used are good, but why are there such skimpy explanations for them? Several photos are of groups, and other than Mr. Rickman, almost no one is identified. Strange. And, of all things, no picture at all from his arguably greatest hit 'Les Liaisons Dangereuse'.

The author did her homework, that's for certain. One can only wish she'd had a better grasp of what to do with the accumulated material -- and better access to a larger photo collection.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the actor, not so many for the book . . .
Review: I did so want to enjoy this book -- I absolutely adore Alan Rickman! I should have waited for the authorized version. Much like comparing ground round to a real steak, certainly a book on which he cooperated would have more substance and flavor to it than does this one. The problem is not so much that he didn't participate - it's almost as though the author didn't really, either.

After the prologue which is very nearly the best part of the book, Mr. Rickman's life is neatly divided up into sections, according to years and/or projects. Okay, that's a valid way of doing a biography, except that here, it's such a mish-mosh. Intertwined with a sentence or two from each of many reviews for each of his productions, are slightly longer quotes from friends or co-workers, who were frequently not even connected with the production being discussed. These quotes tend to wander from year to year, as if lost, looking for their rightful place, just as the reader struggles to recall 'who/where was this?' or 'what play/movie/radio program was that?'

The few pictures used are good, but why are there such skimpy explanations for them? Several photos are of groups, and other than Mr. Rickman, almost no one is identified. Strange. And, of all things, no picture at all from his arguably greatest hit 'Les Liaisons Dangereuse'.

The author did her homework, that's for certain. One can only wish she'd had a better grasp of what to do with the accumulated material -- and better access to a larger photo collection.

Rating:
Summary: IF your a Rickman fan, its a must read
Review: Somehow, I managed to exist for the 12 years of Alan Rickman's movie career without seeing a single one of his films. That all changed with Dogma and I became a HUGE fan. And with that came the desire to find out more about this incredible actor. Maureen Paton has set out to do her best, given that Mr. Rickman, at the time, declined to make this an offical biography. She has gone to incredible lengths to collate information from close friends, interviews, newspaper articles, tracking down as much of his work as possible. It makes for fascinating reading and through her astounding research, my admiration for the man has only grown.

My only criticism is that with no input from the man himself, Paton seems to occasionally ramble on about unconnected topics at some points. Further more, having set up a chronological structure for disseminating the information, she then proceeds to bounce all over time within each chapter, with little regard for the dates at the start of the chapter. That can be a bit confusing!

Rickman fans need this book for its dazzling insights to this great actor. Others may be put off by the disorganized in manner in which the material is presented.